Curling Iron Utility Case

ABSTRACT

A novel system for storing, organizing and safe-keeping of curling irons and other hair-styling accessories. The system offers unfettered access to these instruments when styling the hair, while providing neat and organized storage when not in use. It can safely store hot irons after use without waiting for the irons to cool down.

STATEMENT OF PRIORITY

The following application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/810,821, filed Jun. 5, 2006, the complete contents ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The current disclosure relates to storage and management system forcurling irons.

BACKGROUND

Curls can add an alluring bounce, fuller body or subtle glamour to aperson's hair. The heat from the curling iron, acting in conjunctionwith the natural moisture in the hair, causes certain protein bonds thatgive the hair its structure to break. When the hair is curled around acurler or the round mandrel of a curling iron, new bonds between proteinchains are re-established to hold the hair in a curled condition. Modernelectrical curling irons have high power and can heat up very quicklyfor consistent, dependable results on any type of hair. Butane curlingirons heats up near-instantly and can steam the hair for long-lastinghold.

Although curling irons are a frequently used by a lot of female users,they are not without their drawbacks. Designed to quickly heat and stylethe hair, a hot curling iron can easily burn countertops, dressingtables and other surfaces in a matter of seconds. Because of this, mostusers have to allow their curling irons to cool before storing themaway. A hot iron after use can take up to 10-15 minutes to completelycool, and it is easy for a user to forget to put it away after it cools.Further, a hot curling iron can be a fire hazard, igniting plastics,make up, tissues or other flammable objects on the countertop, even ifleft unplugged after use. A hot iron can also easily scorch a smallchild or pet if left unattended, and butane irons in particular shouldbe kept out of a child's hands.

Left on a countertop, curling irons will create unattractive clutterwhich can detract from the bathroom decor. In addition, the electricalcords utilized to power electrical irons can be both unsightly andpotentially dangerous. Dangling on countertops and hanging ontoflooring, the tangled cords of curling irons and similar hair careaccessories not only create a mess, but can also present a householdhazard. The exposed cords can easily become tangled, possibly resultingin accidental trips and falls.

What is desired, then, is a system that can offer consumers a practicalsolution to the aforementioned problems. The system should store andorganize a plurality of curling irons safely and conveniently, even whenthe curling irons are hot after use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A novel system for storing, organizing and safe-keeping curling ironsand other hair-styling accessories. The system offers unfettered accessto these instruments when styling the hair, while providing neat andorganized storage when not in use. It can safely store hot irons afteruse without waiting for the irons to cool down. An integrated powerstrip can organize and supply power to the irons' power cords.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an isometric view of a Curling Iron Utility Caseaccording to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a view of the inside of the Utility Case with the sidepanel open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts a isometric view of a Curling Iron Utility Case 100(hereinafter “Utility Case” or “Case”) according to one embodiment ofthe invention. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the Utility Case100 comprises an upright, enclosed case 101 configured specifically forstoring curling irons for hair. Generally rectangular in shape, the case101 could be manufactured of heavy duty and heat resistant plasticmaterial. In other embodiments of the Case, the Case can be manufacturedof any heat resistant and durable material, including crafted metals,tempered glass, wood, or any material known or convenient. A thin layerof silicone insulation material would encompass the interior of theCase, preventing the conduction of heat and ensuring the exterior of theCase stays cool to the touch, even when curling irons stored within theCase are hot (i.e., turned on and heating up, or turned off and coolingdown). In further embodiments, any insulation material known orconvenient, including fiberglass, rock wool, polystyrene or polyurethanefoam, may be used.

Spaced evenly across the top surface of the Case 101 are series ofcircular shaped openings 102, 103, 104, 105 which form receptacles forthe barrels of curling irons. In a preferred embodiment of the Case, thediameters of the openings 102-105 should measure _″ (one-quarter inch),_″ (three-quarters inch), 1″ (one inch) and 1½″ (one and one halfinches), respectively. Each opening 102-105 can receive and hold thebarrel 107 of a curling iron 106, which is slid vertically through theopening into the case 101. The different sizes of the openings 102-105are to accommodate different sized barrels 107 of different curlingirons. Larger openings configured for large barrel curling irons, aswell as rectangular shaped openings for flat irons and crimpers couldoptionally be included in further embodiments of the Utility Case.

Refer to FIG. 2, which shows the Case with its side panel 108 open andshowing an interior storage space 201. A series of shelf-likeattachments 202 would be incorporated into the interior 201 of the case,on which the bottoms of the curling iron barrels 107 would rest.Positioned on one side of the unit would be a durable hanging hook 203,on which the user can conveniently hang a blow dryer.

Positioned on an exterior surface of the Utility Case is a surgeprotector power outlet strip 109 featuring outlets 110, 111, 112, 113for each curling iron receptacle 102-105. A standard power cord (notshown) would be attached to the base of the surge protector, which wouldbe plugged into a standard wall electrical outlet. An on/off switch 114would be positioned on the base of the surge protector, enabling an userto turn of all instruments plugged into the various outlets 110-113simultaneously. Overloading may be a problem with any sort of powerdistribution adaptor, and this is especially likely if multiple curlingirons are turned on. It is essential that the power strip incorporate acircuit breaker or fuse to prevent overloading the household electricalcircuit.

Installation and use of the Curling Iron Utility Case is very simple andstraight forward. The user would simply place the case 101 on acountertop, the back of a toilet tank, or any suitable flat surface. Theuser would then plug the elongated power cord of the surge protector,located on the exterior of the Case, into any standard wall outlet.Next, the user would load the Case with their favorite styling tools.Sliding the barrel of their curling irons into the individual storagereceptacles 102-105, the user can utilize the interior storage spaces201, 201 a of the case 101 to store brushes, combs and other stylingtools in appropriate holders. The individual power cords 115 of eachstyling tool would then be plugged into each surge protector outlet110-113. Activating the on/off switch 114 on the power strip 109, theuser would turn on and heat the styling instruments stored within theCase. Once heated, a curling iron or styling tool can be removed fromthe storage receptacle for use as normal, and returned to the receptaclefor storage after use without the need of waiting for the iron to cooldown.

There are many significant benefits and advantages associated with theCurling Iron Utility Case. Foremost, this cleverly designed storage casewould provide consumers a simple and efficient means of safely storinghot curling irons. An insulated case configured to hold several curlingirons, the Utility Case would provide a heat-resistant barrier betweenthe hot irons and other surfaces. In this manner, use of the productwould enable consumers to protect expensive countertops, delicate woodendressing tables, cupboards and drawers from the dangerous heat of theiron. Another important feature to this product is that the Utility Caseenables consumers to neatly organize dangling power cords, freeing upvaluable space within the bathroom or dressing room. Further, theUtility case is equally versatile in a home environment or forprofessional use by professional stylists and salon owners.

Although the system has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modificationsand variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.Accordingly, the apparatus as described and hereinafter claimed isintended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variationsthat fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

1. An apparatus for managing and storing a plurality of curling irons,comprising: a case with a generally rectangular shape, a plurality ofreceptacles situated on an exterior surface of the case, each receptaclecapable of receiving a curling iron by passing the barrel of saidcurling iron through the receptacle into an interior space of the case,a panel on said case exterior that can be opened to allow access to theinterior space of the case, a power strip integrated with an exteriorsurface of the case, said power strip comprising a plurality ofelectrical outlets, a circuit breaker and an power switch to turn thepower strip on and off, wherein power cords of curling irons can beplugged into the electrical outlets of said power strip.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the interior space of the case is coatedwith a heat-resistant material.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thecase is constructed of a heat-resistant material.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of receptacles have different sizediameters ranging from small at one distal end to large to the otherend, said receptacles capable of receiving different sized barrels ofcurling irons.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hookfor hanging a blow dryer.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a shelf structure in the interior space, said shelf structureserving to partition the interior space and for holding curling irons inthe receptacles at a desired height.